OVER 1,500 IDP CHILDREN IN BENUE RECEIVE LEARNING MATERIALS FROM UNICEF. (PHOTO).

 OVER 1,500 IDP CHILDREN IN BENUE RECEIVE LEARNING MATERIALS FROM UNICEF

1st August, 2025      

More than 1,500 internally displaced children in Benue State have received educational materials from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as part of efforts to support victims of herdsmen attacks in the Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area.

The distribution took place Thursday at the temporary IDP camp located at the International Market, Makurdi, where UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe, led the presentation of items which included 5,000 exercise books, 1,000 school bags, and 1,000 sportswear.

Chiluwe emphasized the importance of education in restoring hope and shaping the future of displaced children, urging the Benue State Government—especially the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)—to intensify support for the initiative.

“There are over 1,500 IDP children, and we are here to support them with educational materials. But we need more collaboration. These children need whiteboards, teachers, and continued educational support, even when they return home,” she said.

UNICEF Education Specialist from the Enugu Field Office, Agatha Nzeribe, stressed the urgency of intervention, warning that failure to educate the displaced children now would have long-term consequences on their personal development and the nation’s economy.

“These children are in a critical phase. If they don’t learn now, they may never learn again. We must act to avoid producing a generation lost to trauma and neglect,” Nzeribe said.

She explained that UNICEF is providing early childhood learning through play, literacy and numeracy support using the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, and is also ensuring school health services and protective activities within Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) at the camp.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Helen Nambativ, commended UNICEF for its consistent and impactful interventions.

“UNICEF has offered the highest level of support among all our partners. Their commitment to education in the midst of crisis is truly commendable,” she said.

Benue State continues to grapple with displacement crises caused by recurrent attacks on rural communities, leaving thousands of children vulnerable to interrupted education and trauma.